CHAPTER 6 . Life and Death Escape in the Forest

Chuyang hurriedly followed the girl, stepping through the deep, dense forest, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet woods.

The extraordinary strength he had demonstrated while defeating the black-armored wild boar puzzled him, but what bewildered him even more was everything before his eyes.

This place was nothing like the world he knew.

The girl moved gracefully, as if she were one with the ancient forest, perfectly attuned to the surrounding atmosphere.

Questions surged in Chuyang's mind, but he dared not speak them out loud. He could only observe her every move silently.

She appeared fragile, even delicate, but her gaze was unwavering, filled with an extraordinary determination.

Chuyang noticed that she was constantly alert to everything around them. This composure was not something an ordinary person could possess.

A thought crossed his mind—this woman was no ordinary person.

"You... are you from here?"

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Chuyang finally spoke, his tone tentative.

The girl paused for a moment at his question, a flicker of doubt passing through her eyes, but she quickly regained her calm and said softly, "How do you know? Where are you from? From your attire, you don't seem to be from here."

Chuyang's heart tightened, but a faint sense of relief also washed over him.

If she were truly a living person from this world, at least it meant he wasn't in a dead world.

He nodded, trying to hide his unease, and hesitantly replied, "Uh… I was just passing through and got lost. Hey, miss, why are you alone? This forest is dangerous."

The girl glanced at him, as if weighing something, then after a moment, she spoke softly, "I'm just passing through too."

Both of them were cautiously testing each other. Chuyang knew he couldn't reveal his unusual situation—he still didn't fully understand what had happened.

More importantly, he didn't know who this girl was, so he had to be careful.

At that moment, the ground trembled slightly, and a strange energy began to spread through the air.

Chuyang stopped, his heart suddenly tightening.

The girl immediately became alert as well, her brows furrowing, her sharp eyes sensing something unusual.

"What's happening?" Chuyang asked in a lowered voice, trying to suppress the unease rising within him.

The girl took a deep breath, scanning the surroundings. Her gaze finally landed deep within the forest, and her expression grew complicated.

"I… I'm not sure. But something bad is about to happen."

Her voice was low, tinged with an unmistakable worry.

As soon as she finished speaking, the air around them became heavy, as if an invisible pressure was enveloping the entire space.

The sky above them suddenly darkened, thick clouds rapidly gathering, blocking the light. The trees around them swayed slightly, making eerie creaking sounds.

Cracks began to silently spread across the ground, as if some powerful force was about to burst forth from beneath.

Chuyang's heartbeat quickened, a suffocating sense of oppression sweeping over him, and he felt an unprecedented danger.

"What is this?"

He struggled to remain calm, but everything before his eyes filled him with an inexplicable unease.

The girl's brow furrowed deeper, her expression growing graver, her eyes fixed on the distance.

"I don't know… but I've never felt this kind of aura before. I'm afraid some ancient power in this forest is awakening."

As her words ended, the temperature around them dropped sharply, and a chilling aura spread, as though everything was about to freeze.

Chuyang couldn't help but shudder, a strong sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

He instinctively reached into his pocket to feel for the crystal stone, but he was shocked to find it missing.

Before he could think further, a blinding red light suddenly erupted from the crack in the ground, illuminating the entire sky.

The girl quickly raised her hand, and a fierce wind swept up like an invisible force, violently pressing toward them.

Chuyang felt a strong tug pulling him backward, as if the ground beneath his feet was collapsing.

"Run!"

The girl shouted, turning and quickly fleeing toward the crack.

Chuyang had no choice but to follow, though his unease only grew stronger.

As they ran faster, the crack behind them widened, and the roaring sound nearly made the earth tremble.

In that instant, the girl's steps abruptly stopped. She waved her right hand, lightly brushing the air, and a brilliant light shot from her palm, quickly forming an invisible barrier in front of them.

"Stay close to me!"

The girl instructed in a low voice, her expression grave. Though her tone was calm, the unwavering light in her eyes made Chuyang feel an invisible force.

Chuyang instinctively halted, his gaze fixed on the barrier.

The light expanded into a semi-transparent shield, gentle like a thin membrane, but radiating a powerful aura. The air around it seemed to tear as it lightly vibrated.

Suddenly, a massive shockwave hit, and Chuyang felt a strong push. The oppressive feeling in the air intensified.

The ground beneath them trembled, cracks spreading as if some enormous force was pulling at them. Yet, the barrier remained firm, shielding them from the impact.

Chuyang's eyes widened instinctively, astonished by what he saw.

This seemingly fragile girl could wield such immense power!

Every thread of spiritual energy she summoned emitted a remarkable aura, as if each of her movements fought against the forces of nature.

Her eyes were still resolute, but from her slightly furrowed brows, Chuyang could sense her pressure and anxiety.

She wasn't completely unfazed; she was struggling against this overwhelming hostile force, doing her best to keep them safe.

As the air around them fluctuated violently, Chuyang suddenly felt an unknown heat rush toward them. The scorching breath from the crack burned everything around them.

Yet, the girl's barrier held steady, like a sacred rampart, blocking all danger outside.

"You…"

Chuyang couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with shock, "Who exactly are you?"

The girl didn't turn, but took a deep breath, her face growing more serious. She whispered, "This is the best I can do. Hurry, we need to escape now!"

Chuyang's heart skipped a beat. Although she didn't offer further explanation, he could feel the deep sense of crisis in her words.

What she knew about this world went far beyond what Chuyang could currently imagine.

Just as they were about to continue running, a dazzling red light suddenly emerged from the crack, violently charging toward them.

At that moment, the girl gently waved her hand, and the barrier exploded, unleashing a powerful surge of energy that instantly enveloped them.

The light surged like an invisible storm, its unstoppable momentum swallowing everything in its path.

In that instant, Chuyang's mind was completely overwhelmed by the force, his head going blank, with only the deafening roar of an explosion echoing in his ears.

They began running again, but at that moment, intense red flames suddenly burst from the depths of the crack!

The flames surged like a tidal wave, engulfing the land around them, the red light flowing like a river, the twisting fire resembling snakes, carrying destructive power.

The two of them didn't speak, instead using every ounce of strength to flee wildly, but suddenly, an immense pulling force from behind yanked them toward the crack!

Chuyang felt his body losing control, as if being dragged into an irresistible vortex.

Just as his consciousness began to fade, a warm white light suddenly enveloped them.

The powerful pull behind them vanished in an instant, and the surrounding chaos gradually dissipated. Chuyang's world shifted once again.

"Ugh!"

Chuyang gasped, instinctively raising his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding light.

As his vision adjusted, he slowly opened his eyes, and what he saw completely stunned him.

They were no longer in the forest.

The sky was a boundless, ocean-like blue, with soft white clouds drifting gently as if painted in ink.

Countless cranes soared high, their feathers shimmering with starlight, like otherworldly creatures dancing through the air.

Below them lay an endless lotus pond, the clear water reflecting the heavens like an immaculate mirror.

Lotus flowers bloomed in the pond, their subtle fragrance filling the air, as if purifying the soul.

Willows hung low by the pond, their tendrils swaying lightly. Every falling leaf glowed faintly, embellishing this fairyland.

The air was filled with an indescribable tranquility, every breath seeming to draw in the purest essence of the world.

Chuyang closed his eyes, as if time had slowed, immersing himself in this serene world he had never experienced before.

"This place is…"

He murmured, his voice full of awe.

However, the girl's expression shifted slightly. She relaxed her body, but her eyes glowed with a mix of excitement and reverence.

"This is the Immortal Realm… we're safe."

She whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Chuyang turned to look at her, keenly sensing the familiarity in her eyes.

It wasn't fear; it was a sense of recognition.

Clearly, this place was not unfamiliar to her.

The girl took a deep breath and looked up at the distant, towering immortal mountain, where a figure seemed to be walking toward them.

"It was Master Void who saved us," she said.